| Author | Message | ||
     Bigschwerm |
You had $4000.00 to sink into your bike what would you do? (performance and looks) I just want to get some ideas im currently deployed overseas for a year and reenlisted for a bonus and have some play money for my bike i set aside. My bike is already paid in full (09 1125r White/blue) Things already done: Stock exhaust (getting Ceramic coated) OSB performance tune for stock Can HMF Exhaust (OSB Performance tune for HMF currenly in the works) K&N Filter Fender Eliminator LED Integrated tail light Denoided Ideas im kicking around are: Full fairing kit with full paint job in Black with ghost flames, coat the rims Black also or just buy the lowers and have it painted?? Any ideas are welcome. Just want to kick around ideas on here and im hoping seeing the thread from time to time will help pass the time faster  | ||
| Jdugger |
SUSPENSION Hands down. Not even a question. Penske in the rear, AK-20 up front. (about $2500) Or, Race Tech rebuilds all around if you aren't that spendy. (About 1200-1300) Sprung to your weight and valved to your skill level. After that, I'd look at tapered steering head bearings and the Ohlins damper kit. With the money left over, I'd spend it on good tires, EBC 4HH brake pads, and some riding lessons with a local racer. That will do way, way, way, way, way more for your speed and performance on the bike than almost anything else you could spend your money on. (spend the money on YOU, not the bike.) The other things you have done or are considering won't make that much of a difference in the bike's ability. Unless you are riding around at WFO all the time, most powertrain mods are really, really expensive for what you get. If you are a "big guy", remember that losing 5-6 pounds is roughly the same as 1HP. That alone can make an enormous performance difference in the bike. Please consider suspension upgrades. It's a NIGHT AND DAY difference in how the bike handles and the confidence it will communicate to you in the corners. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I, too, would probably do suspension stuff, but since I'm not a big time racer, I'd stick to amatuer components at amatuer prices. The leftover would buy me a Drummer and a paint job. But to be honest, I like the bike so much, that the $4000 would go to the '64 Harley restoration fund, lol. | ||
| Bigschwerm |
Thanks Jdugger I will look into that im 6' 220lbs never changes to much always been a stalky guy (plus cant be "TO BIG" the army wont let me) where would one start looking at the suspension parts you listed..would like to start talking to them and get the ball rolling in the next few months. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
i havent been on sport bikes long but even in the cruiser world susp like Dugger said is night and day different. would def make that better | ||
| Jdugger |
Good suspension makes a huge difference on any kind of bike, in any kind of riding. I have a full rebuild done on my track bike. It is sprung for my weight, then valved and set up using race tech internals and fuilds for my skill level and application as a track bike. I have the same set-up on my street legal 1125r, but it's valved totally differently: softer damping, with a larger low-speed hole drilled in the value to help with pavement bumps and other lower speed riding issues. The track bike is miserable on the street. The street bike won't handle the cornering loads of the track as well. The point is: Suspension always makes a huge difference. It's a worthwhile investment regardless of what you ride. Good suspension is always better than cheap, no matter what the application. Good suspension, set up for a street rider, doing a "street sport" pace will mean a suspension that handles bumps easier, and still doesn't pack down or load in the corners. You can have both! It makes a huge difference in the confidence and handling of the bike. Find a race tech suspension tuner/dealer, and tell him you want your front and rear rebuilt with springs to your weight, gold valves, and new fluids and seals. Ask him to set it up for a "street/novice" configuration. Enjoy! Don't let your ego get in the way of the settings. Setting up the bike too firmly will mean you have suspension that expects higher loads than your corner speeds give it, and you won't get the confidence. Instead, start with the novice settings, and as your riding improves, have the forks/shocks serviced with increased low and high speed damping settings. It doesn't cost much to have the suspension serviced. The big cost is in the initial rebuild. For what its worth, I'll ride "mid pack" in the A group at a track day, and my bike is set up only recently for an "intermediate". | ||
| Pariah |
I'll be the annoying inevitable sanctimonious poster who will say that you should take that money and invest it in "rider education"  Seriously, though, I'm trying to save up to attend the California Superbike School/Camp myself. I'd use at least part of the money to do a 2-Day Camp with them. That would cost about $2300 (factor in a bit more for airfare if needed)--- you might get a military discount. Take the rest of the money and spend it on toys... | ||
| Xl1200r |
Good suspension makes a huge difference on any kind of bike, in any kind of riding. I put Progressive springs in the front fork, and a pair of 1200S take-off fully adjustable shocks on the back of my Sportster and the difference was astounding. I can't imagine how that bike would have ridden with a little more money and stuff setup specifically for me and that bike. | ||
| Jdugger |
> I'll be the annoying inevitable sanctimonious poster who will say that you should take that money and invest it in "rider education" Rider Education is the performance upgrade you can take with you from bike-to-bike! I did the Keith Code school's 2-day camp a bit more than a year ago. I learned a lot and it made a difference for sure. I would say the Keith Code program is very good for someone looking to improve their sportbike skills, but isn't really focused on getting fast at the track. I've had to spend some time unwinding things learned there that simply aren't the fastest way around a track, but probably are the safest/quickest way around the street. I know an instructor that teaches at the Skip Barber school, and I would highly recommend that program, even though I've never attended, just because I know the caliber of the instructors here. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Are you going to be riding on the street mostly? Do you expect to do a lot of track days? What you do with the bike kinda depends on what you do with the bike... For me, as I have said before, I would love to do track days and rider improvement courses, but as it sits, because of the constraints of my work schedule (which are nothing compared to yours, man!) I have to be content with reading and practicing thru my daily routine. My opinion, do the exhaust, k&n, and ecm, do whatever cosmetic stuff you want, and if you are doing track days the best thing you could do would be the suspension. Before all of that, if you are going to get into racing/track days heavy, do the rider education. Do it anyway if time allows! Whatever you do, make it your own. BTW, the Drummer is worth the money. Do it. Rob | ||
| Bigschwerm |
Thanks for all the tips, I would like to take a track school sometime always something i wanted to do. I have been involed in the MSF program at Ft. Campbell for a few years and fill in sometime as a instructor in Clarksville. I completed the BRC/ERC and the advanced sportbike riding course the military is making mandatory here shortly (about time) but i still would like some track courses as well...i know there is alot to learn yet. I have the suspension dialed in perfect for me right now for the street but would like to improve on the suspension if possible. I love hitting the corners and dragging knees and i try and make that most of my riding if possible. | ||
| Ponti1 |
$4000 extra lying around? Hmmmm...Buy a tuber! I wouldn't spend another $4K on this bike, because, quite honestly, it needs very little to be perfect for me. I'd maybe get some sliders and a spare set of tires, and then go looking for a nice S1W or S2 to add to the stable. Then again, I've been wanting to do that anyway, so YMMV. | ||
| Ducdood9 |
Anyone that doubts the power of suspension go to a ducati dealer an drive back to back a base model 1198 and then the 1198S, same engine different suspensions. | ||
| Hellgate |
R6 track bike? All kidding aside, not really, an Ohlins on the rear and Race tech in the fork tubes. For the motor a full and proper exhaust system. If an '08 change to '09 FIs and update the flash to match and tune with OSB. | ||
| Bikejunky |
Steering Damper, Buell Race Fairing, HPE Pipe SHAZAM! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
+1 on the suspension. That's my winter project. | ||
| Misterrich |
I would put a down payment on a Hayabusa. And with the 2k trade in value i was offered my new bike would be half way paid for. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
word on the training too. def something that makes you a better rider period regardless of the steed of the day. |
